Replies

At the risk of being derided or flamed, I'll give Y'all some information on the "dry" or "composting" toilet. I've actually done some research on it, looking for a solution to building an indoor toilet on a remote desert mountainside where flushing is simply not an alternative.

It's not at all a simple "two-holer" like I knew at my grandma's. I believe the original concept and patent is Swedish and was given to the Clivus Multrum company.

The reason these toilets are more expensive is that they require some lateral space--a chute that has a slope in it--and should have a vertical pipe chimney that carries odors (and bugs) outside, using the venturi effect. They also have to have a door at the end of the chute for removal after the period needed for composting. However, the initial higher cost may be offset by the fact that water is not necessary or used in great amounts forever.

Human and other household waste slides down the chute and becomes part of a compost pile full of enzymes that reaches high temperatures, high enough to sanitize the waste material. This usually takes about 4-6 months, depending on the average outside temperatures.

Properly built there is no danger from disease and this type of system provides the only sanitary method to dispose of human waste in areas where water or infrastructure are not available. That's why there was a Third World conference.